Pride and Prudence

My nine-year old daughter, comforted and tucked into bed after a day of sadness, heard a helicopter overhead late on the evening of that fateful Septem-ber 11. Her sudden warning cry to pick her up and head for the basement brought me abruptly up against a bitter reality: Life in 21st Century America has changed.

Of course I could and did reassure my little one that our government and citizens will do all in our power to protect our children. We are, as a nation, standing united and proud against a terrible foe - not against another nation, but before a shadowy force of terrorists whose dark shape twists and turns within countless countries of the earth, wreaking acts of war.

We observed the worst strikes thus far by these international terrorists as they happened, on our television screens. The nation mourns for the thousands of innocent victims. We are preparing for battles that will undoubtedly occur. We agree to return to a certain normalcy (normal but not precisely the same as before), determined to be strong.

Countless individual examples of heroic courage and compassion have emerged from the ground zeroes of New York, Washington, and the Pennsylvania countryside. National pride and patriotism abound and flags fly everywhere. As a people, we are full of pride for this beloved country of ours - and we have much of which to be proud.

It is good to see that the proud USA is also exercising prudence during this difficult time. We are grimly collecting the evidence, preparing our troops, and making plans carefully with our allies.

Our Collision Repair Industry certainly has both pride and prudence this month. Since October is already NABC’s PRIDE Month, INSIGHT encourages shop owners to be a real presence in your communities. Fly the Stars and Stripes proudly at your facilities, sponsor blood drives, or take part in local relief funding activities.

Both the Alaska CIC meeting and NACE 2001 are taking place as scheduled. A proud industry in a proud nation, we are determined to carry on with business. This is great!

Prudence requires carefulness in daily business and practical flexibility when faced with the unexpected - a virtue certainly practiced in our industry.

Here are a few thoughts about exercising prudence:

As a nation, we should work to find an alternate fuel source. Whatever funds are necessary and whatever lifestyle changes need to be made will be worth it. Let’s become as self-sufficient as possible in our global economy.

Do not react with prejudice toward Arab Americans or members of the Muslim faith. Tolerance and unity in diversity make our country great.

If business trips must be cancelled, let’s contribute those funds to aid our fellow Americans.

As voters, let’s encourage U.S. aid to other countries to be food and medicine, not arms.

Let’s support our men and women in uniform as they prepare for action.